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British Bookmakers Set to Make Record Contribution for Rights to Show Horse Racing

Published

2 years ago

October 4, 2023

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British bookmakers are on track to make a record contribution to horse racing next year – with the bill for media rights forecast to increase by nearly £30m.

The Betting and Gaming Council’s five biggest members for horse race betting, Entain, Flutter, bet365, 888/William Hill and Betfred, expect to see a record cost increase to broadcast races.

In 2022, BGC members paid £270.1m for the rights to live stream races for customers and show them in bookmakers.

But that cost is forecast to rise to £285.3m this year, an increase of 5.6%, with members estimating a further increase to £315.2m in 2024, a further bump of 10.5%.

The combined increase for media rights costs is now expected to rise by 16.7% between 2022 and 2024.

The figures are based on data supplied by the Betting and Gaming Council’s five biggest members for horse race betting, then adjusted to include smaller operators, who must also pay for media rights.

Michael Dugher, CEO of Betting and Gaming Council, said: “BGC members are already making a record contribution to horse racing and these figures show that is only going to increase.

“This comes despite a reduction in betting turnover on racing in the last five years and a worrying decline in participation in horse race betting overall.

“Horse racing remains a hugely important, world-leading sport, enjoyed by millions of fans and like the betting industry it continues to support large numbers of jobs.

“I know racing is trying to modernise and reach out to new fans, while also trying to bounce back from the Covid pandemic and deal with some difficult economic headwinds, plus deal with the hit on its funding caused by the Government. The betting industry is dealing with many of the same pressures on our revenues and costs.

“The BGC and our members remain fully committed to working together with the leadership of the sport, including the BHA and others, to ensure a better future for racing. But the fact that we are making a record and growing contribution to the sport cannot be ignored.”

The forecast costs come after the BGC announced their members directly contributed £384m to British horse racing last year in levy, media rights and sponsorship deals.

These figures showed an increase on previous estimates for the regulated sector’s contribution, which had placed it at around £350m a year.

In addition, bookmakers spent £125m on marketing to promote racing and betting through advertisements and partnerships, which helps secure vital terrestrial coverage of the sport and raise revenue for print newspaper titles.

As well as the increased costs for media rights, levy payments are projected to be £99m in 2022/2023, according to the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

This record investment also enabled horse racing to use some of these revenues to deliver record prize money of £179.3m in 2022.

Horse racing is the second biggest sport in the UK, second only to football, with more than five million people attending around 1400 fixtures annually across 59 racecourses.

However, its popularity is in decline. In 2007, 17% of the population participated in horse race betting in the previous year, but that fell to 10% in 2018.

Meanwhile football overtook horse racing betting around the same time between 2017/2018.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has committed to reviewing the Horseracing Levy by next year.

The Horseracing Levy, which is administered by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, goes towards improving the sport, breeding and boosting veterinary care.

Betting operators are working closely with the British Horseracing Authority and racing stakeholders on much needed reforms to the fixture list and race programme which should increase commercial returns from the levy and media rights.

The regulated betting industry fully supports this once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernise horse racing so it can realise its full commercial potential.

The BGC is also working closely with the government on the proposed reforms from the White Paper to ensure those who enjoy betting can continue to do so without unnecessary intrusion, while introducing improved safeguards for the minority who struggle.

Betting shops currently support around 42,000 jobs, contribute £1bn a year in tax to the Treasury and another £60m in business rates to local councils.

The wider regulated betting and gaming industry contributes £7.1bn to the economy, generates £4.2bn in tax and supports 110,000 jobs.

In April DCMS unveiled the Government’s new White Paper on gambling reform, including a number of key measures the BGC had campaigned for.

Those included a new mandatory Ombudsman for the regulated sector, enhanced spending checks online and a new mandatory levy to fund research, education and treatment to tackle gambling related harm and problem gambling.

Each month in Great Britain around 22.5m adults have a bet and the most recent Health Survey for England estimated that 0.4% of the adult population are problem gamblers.

Meanwhile the unsafe, unregulated gambling black market online is growing in the UK, with the numbers betting on these sites doubling in recent years, and the amount staked in the billions.

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Spintec Shines at ICE Barcelona 2026 with Innovative Electronic Table Games and Jackpots

Published

11 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

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Spintec took center stage at this year’s ICE Barcelona, captivating visitors with a stunning array of electronic table games, interactive experiences, and high-impact jackpots under The Merkur Group’s motto: “Spin with Power. Shine in Color.”

As one of the largest exhibitors, Merkur consistently drew large crowds, showcasing their latest innovations with entertaining presentations and immersive gaming setups.

Charisma Eye: Multi-Game Entertainment for 12 Players

Spintec’s Charisma Eye setting stole the spotlight, designed for up to 12 players. This versatile setup combines a roulette wheel and a dice shaker, allowing players to enjoy roulette, SicBo, and Craps simultaneously or individually. Enhanced with varied payouts, multipliers, and two thrilling jackpots—Galactic Jackpot on roulette and Dragon Jackpot on SicBo—Charisma Eye delivers nonstop excitement for both casual players and high rollers.

Galactic Spin: Three Roulette Games in One

Another major highlight was Galactic Spin, Spintec’s flagship roulette game. This year, the latest version integrates three game modes: classic roulette, Hot Spot, and Galactic Spin. Players can easily switch between modes, all designed to offer highly immersive and engaging gameplay.

Enhanced User Interface for Multi-Game Play

To elevate the player experience further, Spintec introduced a new touchscreen interface that splits the display, allowing players to monitor up to four games simultaneously. When one game becomes particularly engaging, it can expand to full screen, giving players complete control over their gaming experience.

Bestsellers That Continue to Impress Globally

ICE attendees also explored Spintec’s best-selling table games:

Charisma Amphitheatre: Ideal for live tournaments, this setting offers a wide variety of games playable at the same time, enhanced with vibrant graphics tailored for LED walls.
Charisma Stand-Alone: Perfect for individual players, featuring game selector buttons for smooth transitions and fully independent operation.
Charisma Blackjack (5 Play Stations): Brings the thrill of live blackjack to multiple players with five innovative side bets, capable of multiplying winnings up to 320x.
Charisma Roulette (8 Players): Spintec’s proven global bestseller, featuring Galactic Spin, GLI-certified technology, high visibility of the roulette wheel, and a two-sided LED animated topper for added flair.

Spintec at ICE 2026: Innovation Meets Player Engagement

From multi-player roulette and blackjack to immersive interfaces and high-value jackpots, Spintec reinforced its position as a leader in electronic table games. ICE Barcelona 2026 offered visitors the chance to experience firsthand the combination of player comfort, dynamic gameplay, and innovative design that continues to set Spintec apart in the global gaming industry.

The post Spintec Shines at ICE Barcelona 2026 with Innovative Electronic Table Games and Jackpots appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

betting solutions

GoldenRace and Spinmatic Partner with Lynon in Global iGaming Distribution Deal

Published

11 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

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GoldenRace and Spinmatic, both part of Softquo Holding, have entered into a global distribution partnership with Lynon, an all-in-one iGaming platform, to integrate their full portfolios of Virtual Sports and Slots into the Lynon ecosystem.

The strategic agreement significantly expands Softquo’s global reach, making GoldenRace’s industry-leading Virtual Sports and Spinmatic’s innovative slot games available to a broader international audience. Under the terms of the deal, Lynon will gain access to the entire game libraries of both providers, enabling operators and players worldwide to benefit from high-performance, market-ready betting and gaming solutions.

Strengthening Lynon’s iGaming ecosystem

By adding GoldenRace and Spinmatic content, Lynon enhances its offering with some of the most advanced Virtual Sports and Slots products currently available. The integration further positions Lynon as a comprehensive iGaming platform capable of delivering diverse, engaging content to regulated markets across multiple regions.

The partnership also reinforces the market leadership of GoldenRace and Spinmatic, whose combined expertise spans data-driven Virtual Sports, immersive slot mechanics, and scalable global distribution.

“Teaming up with Softquo allows us to deliver a double-edged competitive advantage to our partners,” said Sona Grigoryan, Partnership Manager at Lynon. “By combining GoldenRace’s Virtual Sports expertise with Spinmatic’s creative slot excellence, we are significantly enhancing the value of the Lynon ecosystem on a global scale.”

Expanding Softquo’s international footprint

Softquo CEO and Founder Martin Wachter highlighted the agreement as a reflection of growing global demand for the group’s products and technology.

“Our teams are working incredibly hard to ensure we keep growing worldwide and bringing our top-tier products to players in every corner of the globe,” Wachter said. “This agreement with Lynon shows that leading industry platforms recognise the value of our portfolio. We are delivering the best tools to help our partners engage players and drive sustainable growth, and we are pleased to see our international footprint continue to expand.”

Global demand for Virtual Sports and Slots

The partnership underscores the increasing worldwide appetite for Virtual Sports and premium slot content, as operators look to diversify offerings and improve player engagement. By aligning with Lynon, GoldenRace and Spinmatic further strengthen Softquo’s position as a global supplier of innovative, high-quality iGaming content.

The post GoldenRace and Spinmatic Partner with Lynon in Global iGaming Distribution Deal appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BMM Innovation Group

BMM Testlabs Secures Minas Gerais License, Expanding iGaming and Sports Betting Certification in Brazil

Published

11 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

bmm-testlabs-secures-minas-gerais-license,-expanding-igaming-and-sports-betting-certification-in-brazil

BMM Testlabs, the world’s longest-established gaming test laboratory, has been officially granted approval and accreditation as a Testing and Certification Laboratory in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, significantly expanding its regulated footprint in one of Latin America’s fastest-growing gaming markets.

The authorization, issued under the state’s formal lottery regime Loteria do Estado de Minas Gerais, allows BMM Testlabs to test and certify fixed-odds iGaming and sports betting products, including online sports wagering and instant games offered through LotoMinas.bet. The approval marks another key milestone in BMM’s long-term expansion strategy across Brazil’s evolving regulatory landscape.

Strategic expansion in Brazil’s second-largest state

Minas Gerais is Brazil’s second-largest state, home to more than 21 million residents and a major economic center in the country’s southeast region. Entry into this jurisdiction positions BMM Testlabs to support regulators, operators, and suppliers as the state develops its regulated online gaming and sports betting ecosystem.

With the Minas Gerais license, BMM Testlabs is now fully authorized to test and certify regulated gaming products across five Brazilian jurisdictions, including:

Federal-level accreditation in Brazil
State-level accreditation in Minas Gerais
State-level accreditation in Paraná
State-level accreditation in Maranhão
State-level accreditation in Rio Grande do Norte

This expanding portfolio reinforces BMM’s role as a trusted compliance partner in Brazil’s rapidly formalizing gaming sector.

Supporting regulators and sustainable market growth

Marzia Turrini, President of iGaming & Cybersecurity at BMM Testlabs, said the approval underscores the company’s commitment to supporting Brazil’s regulators and licensed suppliers with independent, high-quality testing services. “As the Brazilian market continues to evolve, regulators and suppliers require testing partners with deep technical expertise, global experience, and strong local knowledge,” Turrini said. “We are proud to support Minas Gerais with independent testing and certification services that help protect players, strengthen regulatory confidence, and enable sustainable market growth.”

Global experience with deep local reach

Founded in 1981, BMM Testlabs is the longest-standing private independent gaming certification laboratory in the world. The company has spent more than four decades testing and certifying a full range of gaming products, including land-based gaming systems, online and iGaming platforms, sports betting, lottery solutions, and emerging digital wagering technologies.

BMM has been recognized for its regulatory leadership, winning the Vixio Global Regulatory Award for Testing Service or Solution Provider of the Year in both 2024 and 2025. The company authored the first independent gaming standards in 1992 and the first online gaming standards in 2001, helping shape modern compliance frameworks worldwide.

Innovation, cybersecurity, and global scale

In addition to traditional testing and certification services, BMM operates the BMM Innovation Group (BIG), which delivers advanced technology solutions focused on cybersecurity through BIG Cyber and professional training through RG24seven Virtual Training.

BMM Testlabs employs more than 800 professionals across 16 global locations and holds more than 700 licenses worldwide, enabling it to support regulators and gaming suppliers across mature and emerging markets. The company’s global headquarters are in Las Vegas, with offices throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, including a growing presence in Brazil.

With its new Minas Gerais accreditation, BMM Testlabs continues to solidify its position as a leading testing and certification authority for Brazil’s regulated iGaming and sports betting market.

The post BMM Testlabs Secures Minas Gerais License, Expanding iGaming and Sports Betting Certification in Brazil appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.